My Journey to Post-Grad Vet Med by Evie Sellars

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Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s veterinary

My first and arguably most important blog post!Here’s why I want to be a vet. At first, I thought I’d be a fishmonger until I realised how much I’d smell. Then it was fascinated by the mounted police force, but that was too emotional and stressful. Or a paramedic? Far too much blood and responsibility. So maybe I’d be a jockey, but I kept on growing… When I was old enough to write my first Christmas list I think it was clear I had something in mind.

Much to my family’s amusement, I decided I’d commit my whole life’s purpose, to the most intensive, tiring, empathetic, smelliest, goriest, busiest and challenging careers out there. My height was never a problem either. They always said I was born in the wrong era, as my family owned a farm with donkeys, geese, dogs, sheep, horses, calves, the lot. They even lived in what is now a vet practice, where I did my initial work experience.

My beloved Rubin had recently died and after we owned a branch of Animal Hospital in our loft and later Schleich animals, my family bought a rabbit. Noticing my connection with animals somewhat resembled Dr Doolittle, it was clear what we needed was a real pet. My very intelligent and hairy dog Benji lives with my grandparents, he’s 14 but Cushing’s disease isn’t stopping him. With my first vet kit and scrubs, I started traumatising the poor dog (and my sister) ‘playing vet’. Years later I received my first stethoscope from a family, paramedic friend.

I was never asked ‘why’ as I was growing up. At a Vet-Medlink conference, every student was asked what gave them ‘The Edge’ (see my old blog posts), and we all had similar answers. No one had a eureka moment. It took some digging, but after my interviews, I realised I had a pretty good answer to their question.

Working with animals and people: supportively, productively and emotionally. The One Health Initiative is the perfect example of vet’s role in government positions and education. Working with consumers and producers is essential if we want to maintain antibiotic use. Animal care inside and out: quite literally, with surgery, emergencies and consults inside vs large animal surgery, sample collecting and testing outdoor, just to name a few. Which leads me on to “the spice of life”, as an Edinburgh Vet from my Sixth Form described; variety: I’ve always said that when I am asked “what have you done today?” as I tuck into my dinner (be it 7 pm or 4 am, depending on my hours), I want to answer with something different from the day before, and the day before that. How many people can save a life, cuddle puppies, perform intricate surgery and expel anal gland sacs before the first tea of the day? And that’s just for small animal vets. There’s equine, zoo, large animal, abattoir, government, locum, educational (although I’m not too keen after all this strike malarkey), research, specialist… I could be the next super vet! Who knows, and that’s why I’ve got to give it my best shot. The opportunities are indeed endless. And if 8 years of Uni (21 years of education) wasn’t enough for me, the world’s my oyster, with CPD. Loving what you do doesn’t make you a workaholic, it makes you passionate and driven: Seeing jobs through, beginning to end, again quite literally, as the lifespan of pets and livestock usually means they will be under your practice’s care their whole lives. Building a relationship with clients, farmers, respecting food to fork, meeting people, loving your team and work-family (am I selling it to you?). I don’t want a dead-end, day in day out, living for the holidays job. I want to take pride, be reliable and responsible, and most importantly, enjoy what I do.
I am sure it’s not going to be plane sailing and I’d be stupid to think I wouldn’t question my choices. But I do know this, I have confidence and faith that I will achieve my dream job and I’ll die trying than be in a job thinking “what if?”.
Maybe I’ve inspired you or maybe I’ve put you off. Back in the archives is my original post ‘The Edge’, which is still true, my views haven’t changed but I have learnt and developed my knowledge and understanding of what it means and takes to be a vet through my degree and from recent work experience. My dedication, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation and determination remain 3 years later, stronger than ever.
My next blog you can expect to read all about my A-levels and how I ended up as a prospective financial burden, that so desperately needs your help and support. Big loves, Evie xx

P.S
Thank you to my house, boyfriend, friends, family and Café customers who have donated so far. Your kind support is truly overwhelming. Please donate if you can spare, I’ve been training in these arctic conditions and praying for good weather on the day of the Liverpool BTR half and your sponsors keep me going. The Trusty Paws Clinic have been working hard to open their new Liverpool branch, see their progress on Facebook @trustypaws and their online Wish List.
My grandad warned me of the 5% crowdfunding fee… which is a lot for poor, little me to lose. If you’d rather the doggos and I receive the full amount, here’s my PayPal or you can message me for my bank details (and I’ll thank you on my blog).

5 thoughts on “Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s veterinary”

What a lovely blog. You will get your dream job with all that hard work and studying I’m sure of it. You love animals so much! How young does poor benji look? And poor rubin. Love you loads my lovely Niece. I’ve donated to your personal one as I did the charity one last year when you did the 3 pesks and as do my guide dog monthly. Love you. Aunty Mickey. Xxx